Apple may add touchscreen to next generation MacBook Neo

Apple recently launched its all new MacBook Neo. For those unaware, it is an affordable MacBook which is designed to give tough competition to Windows laptops and Chromebooks. The Apple MacBook Neo is powered by A18 Pro chipset which the same chipset used in the iPhone 16 Pro. The device features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display and its colourful rounded design, Magic Keyboard, mechanical trackpad, dual USB Type C ports, HD camera and promises to offer up to 16 hours of battery life. With the launch of Neo Apple is pushing into the affordable computing segment and is trying to woo the cost-conscious buyers. Now, popular Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reported that the Cupertino-based tech giant is planning to add touchscreen to the second generation of Apple MacBook Neo which is expected to launch on 2027. This would follow Apple’s first touchscreen Mac, expected later in 2026 in the form of a redesigned MacBook Pro with OLED display. The device is said to use on-cell touch technology, which will integrate the sensors directly into the display layer, reducing thickness and improving responsiveness. If macOS 27 introduces native touch support, it would make sense for Apple to extend the feature to lower-cost models like the Neo.Apart from touchscreen display, the second generation MacBook Neo is also said to pack A19 chipset and 12GB of memory. Apple may also expand the “Neo” branding to other affordable devices, such as a potential Apple Watch Neo, as suggested by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.Many rival laptops from HP, Lenovo, Acer, and ASUS already offer touchscreens in the same price bracket. Adding touch capability to the Neo would help Apple remain competitive in the education and budget markets, where touchscreen functionality is increasingly seen as standard.Apple has announced the MacBook Neo, its most affordable laptop to date, starting at Rs 69,900 in India. The Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip, the same silicon found in the iPhone 16 Pro, and features a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with 500 nits brightness and support for 1 billion colours.At 1.23 kgs, the MacBook Neo is lighter than it sounds, and the aluminum build keeps it feeling premium despite the lower price tag. Two USB-C ports, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6, a headphone jack, a 1080p FaceTime camera, and dual side-firing speakers with Spatial Audio round out the hardware.MacBook Neo ships with macOS Tahoe, giving users access to Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools and Live Translation right out of the box. iPhone Mirroring is supported too, letting users interact with their iPhone directly from the MacBook screen—useful for anyone already deep in the Apple ecosystem